Fundraising run to begin Friday for B.C. Paralympian

It’s Monday afternoon and nearing the end of day four for the Penticton runners raising money for Paralympian skier Braydon Luscombe of Victoria.

The four, Braydon’s brother Tyler, who organized the Run for Luscombe 2018 to Victoria, and his three BC Fire Service co-workers, Braydon Kellett, Melissa Irish and Danny Larsen, were hoping to reach the RV campground at Sunshine Valley by nightfall.

“We’re just kind of taking it as it comes right now, we have about 50K so we’ll see how it goes,” said Tyler in a telephone interview earlier in the day Monday. “Sunday was our longest day yet, 62 kilometres, everyone’s feeling it but we’re laughing our pains away.”

There was a bit of snow falling after they packed it in for the night Sunday and Monday dawned cool and rainy.

“It is what it is, we’re just going to go for it, beside we’ve got a nice warm motorhome,” said Tyler who talks to his brother daily about their progress.

For his part, Braydon, who is training for the upcoming World Cup season was especially grateful for what the efforts of the runners.

“It’s pretty neat what they’re doing for me, I actually didn’t know about it for the longest time so it’s pretty cool,” said Braydon who hopes to join the group at some point in the run. “Honestly, it just helps me focus so much more on the skiing and training, it really takes that whole aspect of what I normally have to do most years away so it’s a bonus for sure.”

The tentative goal for the runners Tuesday is to make it to Bridal Falls just east of Chilliwack and Abbotsford the following day.

During the 10-day, 432-kilometre run from the Okanagan to Luscombe’s home town of Victoria organizers are hoping to raise $6,000 and raise awareness for the sport.

The money will be used to help cover team fees and equipment costs for the skier, costs all athletes are required to cover.

The 26-year-old, from Duncan, has been a member of the Canadian Paralympic Ski Team for seven years and has competed in the last two Paralympic games Sochi, Russia and Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Luscombe became an amputee at age five when he lost his right leg to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).

According to run organizers the young athlete has never expected to be treated any differently or let his amputation slow him down.

Donations can be made on the site by pledging a per kilometre amount or flat donation.

People wishing to help can also go to the Cannery Brewing Company on Ellis Street from Nov. 2 to 12 and purchase or fill a Growler Cask and $2 will go to the fundraiser.

A former prospect athlete who moved up to the national team in 2011 after fore-running at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Luscombe has recorded 23 top-10 finishes at IPC World Cup races since his first World Cup season (2012).

At the 2017 World Championships, Luscombe had a top-ten finish in downhill. In the 2016-17 season, he had two sixth-place finishes.